PLACERVILLE, Calif. — An El Dorado County man accused of killing his wife appeared in court Tuesday, facing a judge on a murder charge for the very first time.

Anthony Gumina is accused of homicide in the case of Heather Gumina. She had been reported missing since mid-July, but her remains were recovered Friday.

Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit in court, Gumina is now facing a special allegation -- that he killed his wife because Heather Gumina was a witness to a crime and was "intentionally killed to prevent her from testifying in a criminal proceeding," according to the criminal complaint filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney.

Anthony Gumina was already facing a domestic violence charge.

In court Tuesday, one woman who came in support of Heather Gumina said, "I've known her since we were kids."

The woman asked not to be identified by name.

"All I can say is it's a very sad situation, and I feel sorry for her children and her family. And I really hope that justice is served," she said.

Last month, friends and family placed photos of Heather Gumina on wooden stakes in Placerville. Little did they know she had already been killed July 16, according to the criminal complaint filed by the district attorney.

That complaint reveals Anthony Gumina had prior convictions for selling and possessing methamphetamine.

As a kid, he was a troublemaker, according to Bob Gately, his neighbor in Pleasant Valley.

"When he was growing up he got a pellet gun or some gun and he used to try and shoot birds out of my trees," Gately said.

"It wouldn't surprise me that something like this happened," Gately added. "I always looked at Tony as, he's a kid who's going to get in trouble some day."

At Gumina's home in Pleasant Valley, a friend who didn't want to appear on camera told KCRA 3 that Gumina was nonviolent and wouldn't hurt anyone.

For now, Gumina remains behind bars in the El Dorado County jail with no bail.

KCRA 3 requested a jailhouse interview with Gumina, but he declined. His arraignment has been continued until Sept. 26.